UK and France Will Dispatch Troops to Ukraine if a Peace Deal is Reached

The British and French governments have inked a declaration of intent concerning the stationing of military forces in the nation if a peace agreement be concluded with Moscow, the UK Prime Minister, Starmer, has stated.

Subsequent to negotiations with Kyiv's partners in Paris, he noted that the allies would "establish military hubs in various parts of Ukraine and build secure structures for military hardware and equipment" to prevent any future attack.

The partner countries also suggested that the United States would take the lead in monitoring a halt in hostilities.

The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that any non-Ukrainian military in Ukraine would be considered a "acceptable aim", but has not yet issued a statement on this latest development.

Context and Continuing War

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a major offensive of Ukraine in February 2022, and Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory.

"This constitutes a crucial element of our vow to be alongside Ukraine for the long-term," remarked Starmer.

Heads of state and senior officials from the "Coalition of the Willing" took part in Tuesday's talks.

Addressing reporters at a combined announcement, the Prime Minister further said: "It creates the pathway for the operational parameters under which British, French, and partner forces could work on Ukrainian soil, securing Ukraine's air and maritime domains, and restoring Ukraine's military for the time to come."

The PM added that Britain would be involved in any Washington-directed verification of a prospective ceasefire.

Defense Assurances and Diplomatic Positions

Lead American diplomat Steve Witkoff stated that "durable safety pledges and strong economic promises are critical to a enduring ceasefire" in Ukraine – alluding to a central demand made by Ukraine.

Witkoff indicated the partner nations had "mostly completed" their work on agreeing such assurances "so that the Ukrainian people know that when this war ends, it ends forever."

Donald Trump's son-in-law, US President Donald Trump's advisor, also was involved in the talks.

At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Ukraine's allies had made "major advances" at the meeting.

He added that "robust" defense assurances for Ukraine had been reached in the event of a potential ceasefire.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a "huge step forward" had been made in the negotiations, but added that he would only consider efforts to be "adequate" if they led to the cessation of the conflict.

Last week, Zelensky suggested a peace agreement was "90% ready". Agreeing on the outstanding 10% would "shape the outcome of the peace, the destiny of Ukraine and Europe".

Remaining Challenges

• Land and defense assurances have been at the center of unresolved issues for the parties involved.
• Putin has often said that Kyiv's military must withdraw from the entirety of Ukraine's eastern Donbas or Russia will occupy it, rejecting any concession over how to conclude the war.
• The Ukrainian President has to date rejected giving up any territory, but has suggested that Ukraine could move its troops to an mutually accepted point – but only if Russia reciprocates.

Russia presently controls approximately 75% of the Donetsk region and around 99% of the bordering Luhansk region. The two regions form the heartland of Donbas.

The earlier US-led comprehensive proposal that was widely leaked to the media last year was perceived by Ukraine and its EU supporters as being heavily skewed in Moscow's favor.

This sparked weeks of high-level discussions – with all sides trying to amend the draft.

The previous month, Ukraine sent the US an new 20-point plan – as well as separate documents detailing prospective defense assurances and arrangements for Ukraine's reconstruction, he added.